This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Galle.' Lower says, 'An ancient personal name. Two saints Galle occur in the Roman Calendar, one of whom was a Scotch abbot' (Patronymica Britannica). Miss Yonge says, 'Col or Gall was the name of a companion of St. Columbanus. ... His name of St. Gall is still attached to the great monastery near the Lake of Constance'(History Christian Names).

Peter Galle, Lincolnshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Hugh Galle, Salop, ibid.

Sibylla Galle, Suffolk, ibid.

Philip Galle, Lincolnshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

1550. Buried — Julyan Gawle: St. Michael, Cornhill.

1758. Married — David Gall and Ann Risoridger: St. George, Hanover Square.

"Strangers to the Gadhelic people were called Gall, and this gave rise to surnames such as Gauld, Gall, and the Lowland Galt" (Henderson, p. 59). Gall in the common speech was pronounced 'Gaw.' A rather common surname in Perth and especially in the Muirton of Balhousie during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. John Gal was witness to a grant to the Blackfriars of Perth in 1334 (Milne, p. 27). William Gaw appears as presbyter in Glasgow, 1397 (LSC., p. 124), and a charge was brought against Robert Gal in Aberdeen, 1399 (CRA., p. 378). James Gaw witnessed a sasine in Pertnshire, 1474 (Athole, p. 709). Alexander Gaw was chaplain at Finhaven from 1499 to 1513 (ER.), another Alexander Gaw was a notary and kept a protocol book between 1538—58, and Robert Gal was admitted burgess and guild brother of Perth, 1469. Duncan Gaw was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1535 (NSCM., I, p. 53), and Duncan Gae of Aberdeen, perhaps the same person, was slain in battle of Pinkie, 1547 (SCM., II, p. 34). James Gaw was witness in Glasgow, 1555 (Protocols), and Nicoll Gawe in Dalkeith was summoned before the Privy Council in 1566 (RPC., I, p. 444). Alexander Gaw was minister at Strogeith, and Robert Gaw reidare at Barneweill, 1574 (RMR.). Thomas Gaw was a notary in Perth, 1593 (Methven, p. 81). Donald Gaw in Drumnacarrie was fined in 1613 for reset of Clan Gregor (RPC., XIV. p. 632), and Elizabeth alias Bessie Gaw was heir of Andrew Gaw, her brother, in 4d lands of Glenbuk in 1640 (Retours, Ayr, 349). Alexander Gall in town of Raithen, 1737 (Aberdeen CR,), and another Alexander Gall, farmer in Broomhill of Innes, 1795 (Moray). The name of John Gau, translator of The richt vay to the Kingdome of Heuine, 1533, was also spelled Gaw and Gall. Gaue 1614, Gauwe 1551; Gawe and Gawy 1510. See Gaul, Gauld.

An ancient personal name. Two saints Galle occur in the Roman Calendar, one of whom was a Scotch abbot.

A native of the Lowlands of Scotland; any one ignorant of the Gaelic language; a foreigner, stranger. Gal, Gaelic and Cornish-British, battle, evil warfare; Gal, Welsh, clear.